Gate-latch.



A. W. SPRAGUE & T. B. MULROYAN. GATE LATCH.

APPLIUATION FILED 0GT.19,1908.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

INVENTORS .WITNESSES k a l 6b-m3uc UNITED STATES PATENT OFFFIQE.

ARTHUR W. SPRAGUE, OF LA GRANGE, AND THOMAS E. MULROYAN, OF DE KALB, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN STEEL & WIRE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GATE-LATCH.

Application filed October 19, 1908.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR WV. SPRAGUE, of La Grange, Cook county, Illinois, and THOMAS E. MULROYAN, of De Kalb, Dekalb county, Illinois, have invented a new and useful Gate-Latch, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gate showing our improved latch applied thereto; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are detail views of the latch hereinafter referred to, and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a modification.

Our invention has relation to gate latches for use with swinging gates, and is designed to provide an automatic latch which will receive and secure the gate in no matter what position the latch may be left, and with the gate swinging in either direction.

To this end, our invention consists in providing a pivoted reversible latch, the preferred form of which will now be described.

In the drawings, the numeral 2 designates a gate frame hinged to the supporting post 3. In the drawlngs, we have shown this frame as a metal frame composed of flanged bars of T-shape in cross-section, but it will be understood that our invention is not limited to any particular form of gate, since it will operate with gates of various constructions.

4 designates the latch post, 5 our improved latch, and 6 the pin or bolt in which the latch is pivoted, and which is secured in the post 4. This pin or bolt is slotted at its outer end, and the latch 5 is seated and pivoted in this slot by a vertical bolt or pin 7. The latch 5 consists of a blade of double spear-head or double arrow-head form; that is to say, this blade is of general elliptical form, cut out at opposite sides as shown at 8, to form the four hooks 9.

When the gate is in latched position, the two hooks 9 at the same side of the plate engage or hook around the opposite flanges 10 of the end bar of the gate in the manner clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 8, and thus securely hold the gate in its latched position. To release the gate, either end of the latch plate may be moved to throw the latch into the position shown in Fig. 4 to permit the flanges 10 to swing out of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

Serial No. 458,400.

opening 8 and clear the points of the hooks 9. If .the gate is to be opened in the opposite direction from that indicated in Fig. l, the latch 5 will of course be swung in the opposite direction, as will be readily understood.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, we have shown the latch post as provided with two of these latches connected by a connecting rod 1'2 so that both latches may be actuated in unison.

It will be readily seen that inasmuch as the latch 5 is free to revolveon the pin or pivot 7, it will receive the gate from both directions, and in no matter what position the latch may be left, since the end bar of the gate will always strike one of the conveX surfaces leading up to the point of one of the hooks 9 and cause the engagement of the latch.

For use with gates having frames of other construction, all that is necessary is to provide the end bar of the gate frame with a flange plate for engagement with the latch.

What we claim is l. A gate latch comprising a pivoted plate having recesses at opposite sides of its pivot for receiving and locking the gate from movement in either direction; substantially as described.

2. A gate latch comprising a pivoted plate of general elliptical form, with recesses in opposite sides thereof to receive and lock the gate; substantially as described.

3. A gate comprising a centrally pivoted plate of double arrow-head form; substan tially as described.

4. A gate latch comprising a pivoted plate having recesses in opposite sides, oppositely disposed hooks at the mouth of each recess, with convex outer surfaces leading up to the points of the hooks; substantially as described.

5. The combination with a swinging gate,

of a reversible double latch having recessesin opposite sides, hooks at the mouth of each recess adapted to engage and lock the gate, and formed with convex surfaces leading up to the entrances to said recesses; substantially as described.

6. The combination with a swinging gate, of a pivoted latch provided with looking recesses provided with engaging hooks to receive said gate from either direction, .said

latch having four convex surfaces leading up to the entrances to said recesses; substan-- tially as described.

7 The combination with a swinging gate having an end bar provided with a T-flange, of a pivoted latch plate having a recess to receive said flange, said recess having a con tracted mouth guarded by hooks which extend around the end bar, the Width of the mouth being smaller than the Width of the end bar of the gate to lock the gate from movement When the gate is latched; substantially as described.

8. In a gate latch, a slotted latch pin, and a latch plate seated and pivoted in the slot of said pin and having latching recesses at opposite sides of the pivot for receiving and locking the gate in either direction; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto 20 set our hands.

ARTHUR W. SPRAGUE. THOMAS E. MULROYAN.

Vitnesses as to Arthur WV. Sprague:

J. W. MEAKER, Jr., H. A. PARKS.

Witnesses as to Thomas E. Mulroyan.

WV. A. KILMER, T. D. TEMPER. 

